Prosecutor Sara Beddow said: “The premises was a care home for elderly patients suffering from dementia. It is a four-storey building with a reception and bistro on the ground floor.

“On April 7 staff reported the building had been burgled. The ground floor had been entered and items taken included a safe valued at £200 containing £50 cash, two Samsung tablets valued at £500, and some wine, soft drinks and other items valued at £200.

Joseph Robinson burgled a Newcastle care home

“CCTV was checked and it showed the offence in its entirety. Footage was shown to the police and these defendants were identified.”

The court heard the incident had left residents and staff at the home – which is located on the site of the old Maxims nightclub – ‘shaken and unsettled’.

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A staff member gave a statement which said: “It has made me feel anxious and I’m concerned for the residents that live here and the staff that work nights.

"The village is for vulnerable adults and it should be a safe place for everyone who works and lives here.”

Robinson, aged 40, and 39-year-old Stanley, both of Wilton Street, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to burglary. Robinson also admitted two charges of vehicle interference relating to an incident on April 9 where a homeowner saw him trying the handles of two vehicles parked outside the house.

Clare Stanley, who was Robinson's accomplice for the burglary

The court heard they both had criminal records and Robinson was only released from prison in February.

The defendants claimed they were drunk and under the influence of drugs when the crime took place and thought the care home was a block of flats where their friend lived.

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Peter Howland, mitigating, said: “The CCTV clearly shows them pressing the intercom outside the premises – that’s how they were able to gain access. They accept they were both intoxicated and give the version of events that they thought they were at another property.

“They were mistakenly let in but they only got into the reception and bistro area. Residents live upstairs so no one was aware they were in the premises. It’s an unpleasant offence because it’s part of a care home but they did not go into any dwelling.”

Part of the Belong Care Village, in Newcastle, on the site of the former Maxims nightclub

Magistrates handed Robinson a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, with a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement. He was also given a four-month curfew meaning he must be at his mother’s address in Knutton between 8pm and 8am.

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Stanley received a 12-month community order with a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement. She was also fined £80 and both she and Robinson must pay £405 in compensation to the care home.

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